If I were making my own holiday gift wish list, these are the items I’d tell folks to pick for me (hint, hint!).
Richeson Santa Fe Easel
Who doesn’t want bigger, badder easel? The Richeson Lyptus Wood Santa Fe II Easel is excellent for most large work. An artist can work sitting or standing, with a variety of easily adjusted settings and angles. It features a double laminated quad base, side frames and sturdy H-frame construction. $1,164.39
Turning from large scale to small, tools of high-quality design and craftsmanship make you want to work, and the Hovel is no exception.
Maker’s Cabinet HØVEL Pencil Plane
Brahman Design and Makers Cabinet have teamed up to create elegant drawing tools of the highest quality and utility made to last a lifetime. Hovel is a pencil sharpener that functions as a miniature plane, which allows for as fine a point as one would like without breaking the lead like a typical sharpener. $78 at JacksonArt.com
Lots of us think or talk about taking our art supplies with us on trips and outings, but this gift actually makes you want to.
Princeton Neptune Series Travel Brush Kit
The watercolor artist in your life can take their favorite brushes wherever their creative journey leads with the Princeton Neptune Series 4750 Synthetic Squirrel Round Travel Brush Set for $56.14 at dickblick.com.
Sumptuous Sennelier Pastels
A strong contender for most popular high quality pastels, Sennelier’s Soft Pastel Set in Landscape Colors contains only the purest pigments with minimal amounts of natural binders. Priced at $76.20 at dickblick.com
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With hundreds of hours of painting instruction available on video or digital download through PaintTube.tv, there are endless possibilities for learning how to paint any subject.
For the EXTRA special artist in your life – Tickets to …
An experience they’ll never forget! Go to pleinairconvention.com to learn more.
Plein Air Live is a can’t-miss virtual art conference
Gifts Under $50
Browse this collection of gifts for artists – all under $50!
Give the gift of sketching on the go! The SketchBuddyTM Binder V2.0 comes with a mini drawing board and can be customized with other accessories (available separately). $47.99 at judsonsart.com.
Click here to order a gift subscription to Fine Art Connoisseur or PleinAir Magazine
The Blick Utility Apron offers all-day comfort and heavy-duty protection against splatters, stains, and dust for only $23.99 at dickblick.com.
Never lose your brushes with the Easel Brush Clip. Simply clip it to the side of your easel, studio or plein air! $27.97 for one, $44.97 for two, $57.97 for three at easelbrushclip.com.
Fabriano Cromia paper is a lightfast, acid-free paper ideal for pastel, pencil, and charcoal drawing. Made of 50% cotton, these sheets have a soft feel and great tooth on both sides. Priced at $7.90 per sheet.
Unlike other red lenses, these Paint by Note Value Specs $26.95 are specially created to remove all colors so you can see the notes, or values, in any scene or photo. Once you look through these, you may be surprised how far off your perceived value notes were.
A video workshop teaching “The Easiest Way in the World to Learn Painting (Even if You Have No Talent)– great for aspiring artists!
Raphael Stradivarius Synthetic Kolinsky brushes offer all the attributes of natural hair but are vegan-friendly. Ideal for watercolor, they have a fine point, excellent spring, and water retention. Priced from $12.95 +.
Iain Stewart’s book on watercolor: “En Plein Air – Light and Color.” Geared for beginning artists, En Plein Air: Light & Color introduces a variety of techniques for on-location watercolor painting.
